S&T Operational Excellence Specialist

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Ltd.; Chalk River; On-site; CAD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Benefits from Day One

Tuition support

Pension plan

Job summary

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) is seeking an S&T Operational Excellence Specialist to collaborate with cross‑functional teams, drive operational effectiveness, and support compliance with key requirements across research and laboratory operations.

You will lead assessments, effectiveness reviews, and causal analyses while coaching staff on Conduct of Research and Management System requirements, contributing to governance and quality assurance initiatives and reporting to Management Review

Qualifications

• Post-Secondary education in a relevant discipline (Physical Sciences, Business, Project Management, Quality).
• Experience with structured problem solving and improvement methodologies is an asset.
• Experience with Management Systems, ISO 9001, and/or quality management is considered an asset.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with S&T personnel to identify issues, analyze trends, and implement corrective actions.
• Lead assessments, reviews, causal analyses and audit support activities.
• Drive continuous improvement to promote operational excellence and high-quality outcomes.

Skills

Safety First

Change agent

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

MS Office

Collaboration

Education

University/College degree

Relevant discipline

Tools

ATOM

ImpAct

SharePoint

Job description

Are you looking for a role that will challenge you and allow you to make a meaningful impact across a diverse scientific and operational environment? Can you see yourself conducting assessments, supporting continuous improvement initiatives, and helping ensure excellence in research and laboratory operations? As an S&T Operational Excellence Specialist, you will collaborate with stakeholders across the organization to drive operational effectiveness, support compliance with key requirements, and contribute to the success of CNL’s science and technology programs. If you answered yes, then this may be the job for you!

What you will be doing!

• Collaborating with S&T (Science & Technology) personnel to identify issues, analyze trends, and implement corrective actions that strengthen operational performance.
• Leading assessments, effectiveness reviews, causal analyses, and audit support activities to evaluate and enhance program effectiveness.
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives that promote operational excellence, efficiency, and high-quality outcomes across S&T.
• Preparing and delivering clear, actionable reports, presentations, and communications to support informed decision-making and Management Review Board activities.
• Supporting the development, review, and continuous improvement of Conduct of Research and other S&T processes and procedures.
• Advising and coaching facility personnel on the implementation of Conduct of Research and Management System requirements.
• Monitoring, identifying, and reporting procedural gaps, issues, and improvement opportunities to support compliance and program success.
• Providing guidance to software users on Software Quality Assurance (SQA) requirements and best practices.
• Maintaining and administering CNL's Code Center, including databases, records, and software inventories to ensure accuracy and accessibility.
• Coordinating software package transfers with internal and external stakeholders, including IT, Legal Services, Export and Import Specialists, and S&T Management.
• Supporting Quality Assurance activities within S&T Facilities Operations as a subject matter expert.
• Contributing to governance, compliance, and quality assurance initiatives that strengthen operational and program delivery performance.
• Participating in the Quality Program Selection (QPS) process to support effective quality management across the organization.
• Other duties as assigned by your manager.
  

What we are looking for:

• Education
  • Post-Secondary education from a University or College of recognized standing in a relevant discipline (e.g. Physical Sciences, Business, Project Management, Quality and/or Operational Performance).
  • A combination of education, training, and relevant experience may be considered.
• Experience
  • Experience planning and conducting assessments, reviews, investigations, and/or evaluations, and developing recommendations to improve program effectiveness and organizational performance.
  • Experience applying structured problem-solving and improvement methodologies such as Root Cause Analysis, Kepner‑Tregoe, Lean, risk‑informed decision making, and change management is considered an asset.
  • Experience developing, reviewing, and maintaining procedures, guidance documents, reports, and/or other program documentation.
  • Experience with Management Systems, ISO 9001, and/or quality management is considered an asset.
  • Experience building effective working relationships and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams across an organization to achieve common objectives.
  • Experience using ATOM, ImpAct, SharePoint or similar enterprise applications is considered an asset.
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
  • Demonstrated commitment to "Safety First," ensuring all activities are conducted with the safety of workers, the public, the environment, and CNL facilities as the highest priority.
  • Ability to act as a change agent, championing change initiatives, fostering continuous improvement, and helping others understand and adapt to new processes, requirements, and ways of working.
  • Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to identify trends, evaluate program performance, recognize systemic issues, and recommend practical solutions.
  • Ability to interpret and apply management system, procedural, and quality requirements; understand the interrelationships between organizational programs, processes, and compliance requirements; and translate complex operational issues into practical and sustainable improvements.
  • Ability to plan and conduct assessments, investigations, effectiveness reviews, and causal analyses, and support the development and implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
  • Strong facilitation, collaboration, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build constructive relationships, work effectively across organizational boundaries, and influence outcomes without direct authority.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to gather information from multiple sources and prepare clear, concise reports, procedures, presentations, recommendations, and correspondence.
  • Strong organizational, planning, and time‑management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver quality results in a dynamic environment.
  • Demonstrated self‑motivation and adaptability, with the ability to work independently while contributing effectively as a member of multidisciplinary teams.
  • Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other business software tools.
  • Knowledge of continuous improvement, operational excellence, performance management, quality assurance, and management system principles and their application in supporting organizational effectiveness.
  • Knowledge of the nuclear industry, laboratory, research, or other highly regulated operating environments and associated compliance obligations.
• Security Clearance Eligibility Required
  • Reliability Status with Site Access Security Clearance (SASC), which has a minimum requirement of 3-5 years of verifiable history in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and/or the United Kingdom. CNL implements security screening in accordance with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat's “Standard on Security Screening” and the “Policy on Government Security.”

Working Conditions:

• Working schedule: Five (5) days per week, seven and a half (7.5) hours per day for a thirty‑seven and a half (37.5) hour work week.
• Regular visits to S&T facilities/laboratories requiring adherence to applicable safety, security, radiological protection, and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements.
• Occasional travel may be required to support assessments, meetings, training, benchmarking, or program activities at other CNL locations or external organizations.
• Additional time beyond regular working hours may be required to execute the responsibilities.
  

Why CNL?

Does the idea of working with a dynamic team across Canada to advance nuclear science and technology for a clean and secure world excite you? At CNL, we’re reinventing ourselves to be industry leaders—pioneering solutions to the problems that matter most.

From building the next generation of clean nuclear and hydrogen energy technologies, to developing targeted cancer treatments, to continuing our global leadership in environmental remediation—we are driven by impact, innovation, and purpose.

What We Offer: A Total Rewards Package

We believe in taking care of our people. Here’s what you can expect as part of our team:

• Paid time off: vacation, sick, personal, and floater days
• Benefits effective Day One – no waiting period
• Tuition support to help you keep learning and growing
• A defined-benefit pension plan or a defined-contribution pension plan, depending on your employee group, to support your long‑term financial security

Do Our Priorities Resonate with You?

• Delivering clean energy for today and tomorrow
• Restoring and protecting the environment
• Contributing to the health of Canadians

If so, you’ll feel right at home at CNL!

Location: Onsite

Located in the heart of the Ottawa Valley, our Chalk River site offers a beautiful natural setting with forests, lakes, and wildlife, right at your doorstep. Surrounded by welcoming communities such as Deep River, Petawawa, and Pembroke, you’ll have access to unparalleled outdoor adventures and a fantastic work-life balance.

Please note: This is a fully on-site position based at our Chalk River Laboratory in Ontario.

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

At CNL, we are committed to fostering an environment that promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion. We celebrate and welcome employees, stakeholders, and partners of all backgrounds and identities. Click here to read all about it!

We are proud to uphold a workplace culture grounded in our Core Values:

• Respect
• Teamwork
• Accountability
• Safety
• Integrity
• Excellence

These values drive our employment practices and ensure meaningful career development opportunities and accommodations for all employees.

CNL is an equal opportunity employer. If you require accommodation during any phase of the hiring process, please let us know via [e-mail]. All requests will be handled with confidentiality.

CNL operates on sites located on the traditional lands, waterways and ceded and unceded territories of Indigenous peoples. CNL recognizes and affirms all First Nations, Métis communities and Inuit in this land we now know as Canada. We acknowledge, respect and seek to better understand Indigenous history, rights and title on the lands where we work and develop projects. We honour and respect the importance of the relationship between Indigenous peoples and their lands, waters and territories.